‘Tis true kids. The world’s most famous street artist is opening his answer to Disney’s happiest place on earth, called the Dismaland Bemusement Park, in Weston-super-Mare this weekend.
We reported earlier this week that it was ‘99.9% certain’ that Banksy was planning a grand exhibition on the site of the old Tropicana lido, where the artist used to swim as a child, near his home in Bristol.
And now the news has been confirmed with the launch of a website (which has already crashed twice due to interest) showing new pictures and a map of the park. Banksy’s post-apocalyptic park opens this Saturday (August 22) for five weeks.
Along with Cinderella’s castle (‘step inside the fairytale and see how it feels to be a real princess’), there will be the Water Cannon Creek, Guerilla Island, a cinema, a mini-Gulf course (‘An oil caliphate themed crazy golf course’) a Jimmy Savile-themed Punch and Judy show, a Gothic circus tent, and so much more.
As well as featuring 10 unseen works by Banksy himself, the exhibition will have pieces by over 50 British and international artists, including Damien Hirst, Jenny Holzer and Josh Keyes.
There will also be special guests every Friday and DJ sets every Saturday – guests performers will include Pussy Riot and Massive Attack.
In a press statement, Banksy described the exhibit as ‘a festival of art, amusements, and entry level anarchism.’
He added: ‘I loved the Tropicana as a kid, so getting to throw these doors open again is a real honour. I hope everyone from Weston will take the opportunity to once more stand in a puddle of murky water eating cold chips to the sound of crying children.’
According to the website, Dismaland ‘contains uneven floor surfaces, extensive use of strobe lighting, imagery unsuitable for small children and swearing. The following are strictly prohibited in the Park: spray paint, marker pens, knives and legal representatives of the Walt Disney Corporation.’
MORE : Day one at Banksy’s Dismaland and absolutely nothing is awesome
Oh, and there will be ‘absolutely no refunds under any circumstances’.
Because life ain’t always a fairytale kids.
Tickets for £3 go on sale from Friday August 21 here and the park opens from August 22 to September 27.
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